AutoGas fueling tips and tricks

[Al[_2_]]

We have an autogas STC for our Cessna 172. Other than building another
"mighty Grape" like Jay Honeck's, what tips are there for fueling? Type
of fuel cans, funnels, bonding, do you bond a plastic can, funnel type, etc.

Al
1964 Cessna 172

[Ron Wanttaja]

On Mon, 26 Nov 2007 01:58:51 -0500, "MCE" > wrote:

> I have a Cessna 150 that I've been auto-fueling for 18 months now. I
> purchased a "Mr Funnel F3" well... funnel...from Aircraft Spruce. It has a
> good wire mesh screen for keeping water and crud out.

Even more important, its screen keeps water out. Friend of mine tried to fill
his Volksplane from a drum of last year's gas; the funnel filled up and refused
to pass anything through. Turns out the drum had a lot of water in it....

Ron Wanttaja

[Jim Stewart]

Al wrote:
> We have an autogas STC for our Cessna 172. Other than building another
> "mighty Grape" like Jay Honeck's, what tips are there for fueling? Type
> of fuel cans, funnels, bonding, do you bond a plastic can, funnel type,
> etc.
>
> Al
> 1964 Cessna 172

I use a pair of 5 gallon red plastic jugs
with the new no-emissions normally sealed
nozzles. The jugs are the short, squat
shape and can be lifted up and emptied into
the tank without too much strain.

I try to use the jugs only to transfer fuel
and never store it longer than 24 hours.

[Robert M. Gary]

On Nov 26, 12:20 pm, Jim Stewart > wrote:
> Al wrote:
> > We have an autogas STC for our Cessna 172. Other than building another
> > "mighty Grape" like Jay Honeck's, what tips are there for fueling? Type
> > of fuel cans, funnels, bonding, do you bond a plastic can, funnel type,
> > etc.
>
> > Al
> > 1964 Cessna 172
>
> I use a pair of 5 gallon red plastic jugs
> with the new no-emissions normally sealed
> nozzles. The jugs are the short, squat
> shape and can be lifted up and emptied into
> the tank without too much strain.
>
> I try to use the jugs only to transfer fuel
> and never store it longer than 24 hours.

I used to carry 5 gal jugs in the car and then used a pump to transfer
to the plane. However, that was back when I could buy FAA legal mogas.
Today the cans sit in my garage.

-Robert

[Blueskies]

"Robert M. Gary" > wrote in message
...
>
> I used to carry 5 gal jugs in the car and then used a pump to transfer
> to the plane. However, that was back when I could buy FAA legal mogas.
> Today the cans sit in my garage.
>
> -Robert

Ditto here...an old section of carpet as a pad over the wing, and squareish gas cans, allowed me to put the can on the
pad, put my thumb over the spigot, and then tip the can over and place the spigot in the fuel neck, then pull my thumb
away. Pop the air vent plug and let the can drain. Never any problem, until all the so-called gasoline around here
turned out to be contaminated with alcohol...

[[email protected]]

I've seen a couple of hangar fires caused by de-fueling.
The common denominator was plastic funnels and cans.
Metal woudl be strongly advised.

Bill Hale A&P

On Nov 26, 6:27 pm, "Blueskies" > wrote:
> "Robert M. Gary" > wrote in ...
>
>
>
> > I used to carry 5 gal jugs in the car and then used a pump to transfer
> > to the plane. However, that was back when I could buy FAA legal mogas.
> > Today the cans sit in my garage.
>
> > -Robert
>
> Ditto here...an old section of carpet as a pad over the wing, and squareish gas cans, allowed me to put the can on the
> pad, put my thumb over the spigot, and then tip the can over and place the spigot in the fuel neck, then pull my thumb
> away. Pop the air vent plug and let the can drain. Never any problem, until all the so-called gasoline around here
> turned out to be contaminated with alcohol...

[Mike Noel]

Have you found a source for unoxygenated (alcohol free) unleaded gasoline?

--
Best Regards,
Mike

http://photoshow.comcast.net/mikenoel

If any question why we died, tell them, "Because our fathers lied."
- Rudyard Kipling.
"Al" > wrote in message
...
> We have an autogas STC for our Cessna 172. Other than building another
> "mighty Grape" like Jay Honeck's, what tips are there for fueling? Type
> of fuel cans, funnels, bonding, do you bond a plastic can, funnel type,
> etc.
>
> Al
> 1964 Cessna 172

[Al[_2_]]

Mike Noel wrote:
> Have you found a source for unoxygenated (alcohol free) unleaded gasoline?
>


Yes. While our area was on the EPA's hit list for a number of years
with forced "oxygenation" that was lifted about 4 years ago after a
decade of air quality compliance. We have plain old gas available. I
buy direct from a jobber/fuel distributor at their pump.

Al

[Matt W. Barrow]

" > wrote in message
...
> I've seen a couple of hangar fires caused by de-fueling.
> The common denominator was plastic funnels and cans.
> Metal woudl be strongly advised.
>

I though metal containers contribute to static discharge hazards.

--
Matt Barrow
Performance Homes, LLC.
Cheyenne, WY

[[email protected]]

Matt W. Barrow > wrote:

> " > wrote in message
> ...
> > I've seen a couple of hangar fires caused by de-fueling.
> > The common denominator was plastic funnels and cans.
> > Metal woudl be strongly advised.
> >

> I though metal containers contribute to static discharge hazards.

It is the other way around.

Electrostatics greatly simplified:

In general it is easier to get a static charge on an insulator than
it is a conductor, i.e. metal.

In general it is easier to remove a static charge from a conductor
than it is an insulator because the charge on a conductor is uniform
over its suface while it can be localized on an insulator.

Holding a conductive can in one hand and touching the metal of the
airframe with the other will bring the airframe and can to the same
potential.

Gas cans are supposed to be conductive.

Plastic funnels are almost never conductive and the act of pouring
stuff through a plastic funnel can generate a static charge.

Use approved gas cans, or at least metal cans, and metal funnels.

Make sure everything, you, the can, and the funnel, has made contact
with airframe metal before opening anything.

--
Jim Pennino

Remove .spam.sux to reply.

[Jay Honeck]

> We have an autogas STC for our Cessna 172. Other than building another
> "mighty Grape" like Jay Honeck's, what tips are there for fueling? Type
> of fuel cans, funnels, bonding, do you bond a plastic can, funnel type, etc.

Fueling without a fuel truck/pump/hose is a dangerous pain in the
ass. The cans are really heavy and awkward, spills occur all-to
often, it's easy to dent/scratch your wing, and there is the ever-
present thought that you might burst into flames at any moment.

Building a fuel truck is not an insurmountable feat. Every farmer in
the Midwest has a similar rig, and you can build the whole thing for
less than 3 AMUs. The payback time, with a $1 per gallon price
differential, is very, very quick. (And it's pushing $2 per gallon
right now...)

If anyone needs advice, just drop me an email or post here. I'll be
glad to point you in the right direction(s).
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[[email protected]]

On Nov 27, 3:14 pm, Jay Honeck > wrote:
> > We have an autogas STC for our Cessna 172. Other than building another
> > "mighty Grape" like Jay Honeck's, what tips are there for fueling? Type
> > of fuel cans, funnels, bonding, do you bond a plastic can, funnel type, etc.
>
> Fueling without a fuel truck/pump/hose is a dangerous pain in the
> ass. The cans are really heavy and awkward, spills occur all-to
> often, it's easy to dent/scratch your wing, and there is the ever-
> present thought that you might burst into flames at any moment.
>
> Building a fuel truck is not an insurmountable feat. Every farmer in
> the Midwest has a similar rig, and you can build the whole thing for
> less than 3 AMUs. The payback time, with a $1 per gallon price
> differential, is very, very quick. (And it's pushing $2 per gallon
> right now...)
>
> If anyone needs advice, just drop me an email or post here. I'll be
> glad to point you in the right direction(s).
> --
> Jay Honeck
> Iowa City, IA
> Pathfinder N56993www.AlexisParkInn.com
> "Your Aviation Destination"

The "mighty grape had spoken... :<)))